Dalai Lama meets Chinese language media

Bijender Sharma writes from DHARMSHALA:

His Holiness the Dalai Lama today met with a group of Chinese language media, in Colgate Inn in New York and released his appeal to all Chinese spiritual brothers and sisters, said a spokesman at Dharmshala office.

In his appeal, His Holiness said that he is making this special appeal “as a Buddhist monk and a student of our most revered teacher, the Buddha”. His Holiness added that: “I have already made an appeal to the general Chinese community. Here I am appealing to you, my spiritual brothers and sisters, on an urgent humanitarian matter”.

His Holiness said: “With no international observers, journalists or even tourists allowed to Tibet, I am deeply worried about the fate of the Tibetans. Many of those injured in the crackdown, especially in the remote areas, are too terrified to seek medical treatment for fear of arrest. According to some reliable sources, people are fleeing to the mountains where they have no access to food and shelter. Those who remained behind are living in a constant state of fear of being the next to be arrested”.

His Holiness said he is deeply pained by this ongoing suffering and worried where all these developments might lead to ultimately. His Holiness said: “I do not believe that repressive measures can achieve any long-term solution. The best way forward is to resolve the issues between the Tibetans and the Chinese leadership through dialogue, as I have been advocating for a long time.”

“I have repeatedly assured the leadership of the People’s Republic of China that I am not seeking independence. What I am seeking is a meaningful autonomy for the Tibetan people that would ensure the long-term survival of our Buddhist culture, our language and our distinct identity as a people”, His Holiness said.

His Holiness added that “the rich Tibetan Buddhist culture is part of the larger cultural heritage of the People’s Republic of China and has the potential to benefit our Chinese brothers and sisters”.

In the light of the present crisis, His Holiness said, “I appeal to all of you to help call for an immediate end to the ongoing brutal crackdown, for the release of all who have been detained, and to call for providing immediate care to the injured”.

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Posted by VK Sharma on April 25, 2008. Filed under Featured, Tibet News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry